2017 Spring Graduate Matriculation Ceremony Held
Date of activity: April 12, 2017
The University of Tokyo AY 2017 Spring graduate matriculation ceremony was held at the Nippon Budokan on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 12th.
Approximately 2,800 new students and 3,200 of their family members (over 6,000 people in total) attended the ceremony.
Prior to the ceremony, the Athletic Foundation’s Cheer Squad entertained the attendees with spirited cheer routines, followed by the University of Tokyo Orchestra’s rendition of Richard Wagner’s “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Overture.” President Makoto Gonokami, the executive vice presidents, deans of the Faculties and Graduate Schools and the directors of University Institutes then advanced towards the stage, along with special guest Ms. Naoko Ishii, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The ceremony began with the singing and musical performance of the University of Tokyo’s signature song, “Oozora to (With the Open Sky)” by the Orchestra, male chorus group Chor Akademie, and female chorus group Coro Letizia. President Gonokami then addressed the audience, followed by a speech from Dean of the Graduate School of Medicine Kohei Miyazono. Ms. Ishii then gave a celebratory message to the new students and their families. Next, Mr. Yasuhiko Orita, a student in the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, took an oath on behalf of the entire incoming class. The ceremony concluded with the musical performance and singing of another prominent University song, “Tada Hitotsu (The Only One),” led by the Cheer Squad and performed by everyone in attendance, including the new students.
